Travel Mart Philippines (TTM), where international tourism stakeholders exchange products and services, was held in Iloilo City for the first time, at the Seda Hotel, yesterday.
According to Department of Tourism-Region VI (DOT-6) Director, Atty. Helen Catalbas, serving as host of the event shows “the Western Visayas tourism sector is determined to provide opportunities for local tourism stakeholders to promote their products and services to the international tourism markets.”
“Through B2B (business-to-business) sessions, our stakeholders were able to establish partnerships with travel operators from other countries,” she explained.
“We urge our local government units and tourism stakeholders to work together to develop and create more tourism products and services that will entice tourists to visit and come back to Western Visayas,” Catalbas urged. “Our aim is to bring more visitors to experience Western Visayas and make them revisit the region every time they are here in the Philippines.”
Presenters of the tourism product portfolio included tourism officers from various local regions, including Junel Ann Divinagracia of Iloilo City, Gilbert Marin of Iloilo, Alphonsus Tesoro of Capiz, Liberty Ferrer of Guimaras, Roselle Ruiz of Aklan, Stella Jardeleza of Antique, and Cheryl Jareno of Negros Occidental.
The event, presented in cooperation between DOT-6 and their overseas tourism partners, closed with a dinner at Hotel Del Rio./WDJ